The US special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West, said that the US has pursued a policy of engagement with the “Taliban” and that he is in “regular” touch with the Taliban leaders on all manners of interest. 

In an interview with TOLOnews on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, the US special envoy for Afghanistan said: “We talk about security concerns. We talked about the humanitarian situation. We talk about banking sector challenges, and we also talk about terrorism and counter-narcotics.” 

He said that Washinton will remain in touch with the Afghans, and “that includes the Taliban as we pursue those objectives.” 

West said female education in Afghanistan was a “big focus” at the Doha Forum.

“It has been heartbreaking to see girls graduating six grade in recent days and instead of celebrating, they are breaking down,” he said.

The UN special rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, told TOLOnews in Doha that he "raised the importance of Afghanistan" in the panels at the Doha Forum.

“Please don’t forget Afghanistan, don’t leave Afghanistan behind, don’t abandon Afghanistan, please address the human rights issues and the other humanitarian development and political issues,” he said. 

Meanwhile, women’s rights activist, Hoyda Hadis said that the Islamic Emirate has not paid serious attention to the situation of women. 

“Lack of attention to the situation of women will cause negative consequences,” she said. 

“The Americans initially wanted to engage with the Islamic Emirate and Afghanistan but they have conditions for engagement. As long as their conditions are accepted, they will engage with Afghanistan,” said Samiullah Ahmadzai, political analyst.

West also said that he raised with Pakistani leadership the “plight of Afghan refugees.”